Following a week of testimony, a preliminary recommendation has been issued by an ethics committee from the DC Bar investigating former Department of Justice (DOJ) official, Jeffrey Clark. The ruling asserts violations of ethical conduct in his actions after the last election. Although non-binding, it underpins the DC Disciplinary Counsel’s ongoing campaign to disbar Clark.
During the final days of the Trump administration, Clark – who previously served both as Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division and Acting Head of the Civil Division – contended that the DOJ could send letters to state legislatures, claiming that widespread election fraud had been discovered, insinuating that states therefore had legal grounds to disregard electoral outcomes. However, no such evidence of widespread election fraud was found by the DOJ. You can read more about his actions here.
Although Clark himself contested that he sincerely believed voter fraud had taken place and that his actions were ethically justified, the DC Bar disagreed, effectively siding with the rest of the Trump administration’s lawyers. The bar did not specify which rules Clark had violated, but allegations involved dishonest conduct and interference with the administration of justice.
Today’s opinion, as expressed above, is non-binding and the final decision about Clark’s future status as a lawyer remains to be seen.
Find more about Clark and other lawyers involved in the last days of the Trump administration here.